Chapter 1: The Condition

Emery

I’ve always wanted to escape—to run away from this hellhole that deprived me of all the things that made me happy. There’s really not much in this world that I want. I just long for a simple life, with a loving mate, and a harmonious family.

I sometimes dream of somebody holding me while I sleep, whispering sweet-nothings into my ear, and treating me like I actually matter in this world. 

“What the fuck are you daydreaming for, bitch? Didn’t I tell you to wash our gowns faster?” Caitlyn, the Beta’s daughter, angrily said while pulling my hair, startling me out of my daydream. 

I looked down at the pink sparkly gown that I was currently washing. I wanted to rip it apart so that Caitlyn wouldn’t have anything to wear to the incoming Alpha’s birthday party. But, I didn’t dare do that if I wanted to catch a glimpse at the mysterious Alpha. 

I quietly sighed and proceeded to wash the gowns that Caitlyn and her mother will be wearing to the party. This was Caitlyn’s condition in order  for me to attend the grand celebration. This was going to be the very first time that I was going to go to the pack house, so I had to do my very best to not get on Caitlyn’s bad side. This family had been keeping me in this house for God knows how long. I’ve been feigning ignorance for their actions—for what they did to my mother. But, I knew. I knew all of the monstrosity that they have done to my family. 

Laura Halifax. Even my mother’s name was enough to turn the heads of even the most stubborn men in the land. She was known to be the most beautiful lass in the northern packs. My mother and father fell in love at first sight and they quickly had me, warding off the suitors that my mom once had. We were a happy family, at least from what I recall from my memories; but all of that shattered when my father left us. I was too young to comprehend his departure. My mother always said that he had to go because he had to do “important work.” But now that I’m older, I understood that he probably just fell out of love. 

That event served as the first domino piece that trampled my mother’s entire life—mine too. Once my father left, all of the obsessive suitors that my mother once had came back, including Beta Armad, Caitlyn’s father. By that time, Beta Armad already met his mate, but that did not stop him from pursuing my mother. I was young, but I wasn’t ignorant. I noticed all of the sexual advances that my mother rejected. I saw how Beta Armad’s eyes would undress my mom as we walked past him in the pack house. 

I still remember that day clearly—when Beta Armad finally snapped. 

“Come on, Laura. Caitlyn doesn’t have any playmates. No one her age wants to get close to her because they’re intimidated by my position. Can’t you do this as a favor for a friend...  for Caitlyn?” Beta Armad pitifully said, softening my mother’s heart. She was a sucker for children.

My mom sighed then looked down at me tenderly. “Darling, do you want to go to uncle’s house and play with his daughter? They have a swing and a slide!” 

Being the young spirit that I am, I agreed without any hesitation. “Yes mom! I want a new playmate.”

Beta Armad looked fondly at me, seemingly innocent. That afternoon, we went to their house and saw a young child with pigtails playing with dolls in their living room. “Caitlyn, come and meet your new friend!” Beta Armad excitedly called out to his daughter but the young child didn’t bother looking at us. I found her quite strange but I was still excited to meet a new playmate, and the sight of her dolls were enough to make me happy. 

“Why don’t you play with dolls while I tour your mother around the house?” I joyfully agreed, never removing my eyes from the beautiful dolls that Caitlyn was playing with. Beta Armad and my mother went around the house while I tried to touch the dolls on the floor.

“No!” Caitlyn shouted, alarming me to retreat my hands away from the dolls. “Don’t touch my dolls. You’re dirty.”

“I washed my hands, I promise.” I smiled at her while placing my hands at my heart. I really wanted to become her friend. “I’ll be careful with your dolls! I’ve never seen such beautiful dolls before, so I wanted to play with them with you.”

“Of course they’re beautiful! They are MY dolls. And no! Stay there and watch me if you want.” She scoffed, moving her dolls away from me. I sighed, disappointed. But my mother taught me to always respect other people’s decisions, so I was still happy watching her dress and accessorize her dolls. 

We were suddenly disrupted with the sound of their chimes and their door opening. Caitlyn’s mother, Carrie, comes back home and says that she has left her wallet at their shared bedroom. I was getting quite bored from merely watching Caitlyn, and I was curious about my mother’s whereabouts so I followed Carrie to their bedroom. 

A shrill scream resounded in the house and there I saw my mother’s and Beta Armad’s naked bodies—tears falling down from my mom’s eyes. Carrie swiftly approaches my mother and slaps her out of the bed. Beta Armad started spouting out nonsense. “I...  She just came to me even though I told her that I already had you. She just undressed and tried to seduce me. Oh my, I’m getting dizzy. Did you put any drugs in my drink, Laura?” He said, holding his head and faking dizziness.

My mother, with tears flowing from her eyes, covered her body and shockingly glanced at the couple. “Armad! You did this to me! Stop acting innocent. Was this your intention all along? Was Emery playing with Caitlyn just a pathetic excuse?” She spat then looked at the fuming Carrie. “Carrie, please believe me. Your husband was the one who tried to make advances. I would not do that. I know how important your family is for you. I wouldn’t ruin that. I’m not like that.”

Carrie shifts her gaze back and forth to Armad and my mother, the hesitation clear in her eyes. But then, she suddenly turned towards my mother and jabbed her fingers on her bare chest. “You think I’d believe you? You are a whore! Have you been unaware of the news spreading around? That your husband left you because you were still entertaining suitors despite having a child! And now you even planned to seduce a married man and ruin my family? Stop feigning innocence, Laura. I will make sure that this will spread within the pack, and that you will pay for the consequences of your actions.” Carrie angrily said while pushing my mother back to the bed.

I ran to my mother and hugged her exposed body. “No, my mommy is not bad! We are only here to play.” I shouted, tears also streaming down my eyes. I hated that they were looking down on my mother.

Carrie chuckled and threw me away from my mother. “Carrie! Not my daughter.” My mother cried out and held me as I fell on the floor. I cried even louder as Carrie stepped on my mother’s legs while throwing out insults. “Your life’s going to be miserable from now on.”

The Beta’s family did exactly what they said they would. That very same night, Carrie and Beta Armad filed a case against my mother for adultery and seduction. The pack was unforgiving, and they gave her death by stone as her punishment. 

And there, I stood. I watched as the heavy and rough rocks made contact with my innocent mother. My tears spilled just as her blood flowed. I tried to reach out to her but a strong grip halted my advances. “You’re coming with us now. Don’t you dare share what really happened that afternoon.” I felt Beta Armad’s breath against my ear, filled with murderous intent. I looked at him fearfully as he dragged me out of the scene and into their house. He forcefully pulls me into their attic and heavily closes the door.

Bang. 

The sound of the door interrupted my thoughts. I looked up from the gown that I was washing and saw Carrie looking at me with eyes of disdain. “You’re not done yet? Hurry up, will you? We don’t feed you here just for you to slack off.” 

“Yes, madam.” I quietly responded, speeding up my hands. She clicked her tongue and walked away, the sound of her heels making a loud sound. I let out a big breath and my eyes heated up as the memory of my mother’s death and why I was imprisoned in this house lingered in my head.